Wheel.



K. K. STRUBE.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION IILLD JULY 24, 1909.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

l II MN M o KRISTIAN KARL STRUBE, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application filed July 24, 1909. Serial No. 509,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KnIsrIAN KARL S'rnuun, a subject' of the King of Denmark, and a resident of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in Wheels and has particular reference to an improved type of'wheel for use in connection with self propelled vehicles.

The particular object of the invention isV to provide a wheel in which a solid rubber tire forms the outer rim and at the same time embody in the structure such means as will provide the necessary resiliency demanded by self propelled vehicles.

Another object is to construct the wheel in such a manner that repairs may be quickly made and without requiring special tools or skilled labor.

In order that the above and other objects may be accomplished I have embodied my invention in the structure hereinafter set forth while reference is yhad to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ot a portion of a wheel illustrating the invention and with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the rigid inner rim and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the felly segments.

In the drawing the numeral 5 represents a hub of any suitable form and size and provided with a central bore for fitting the Wheel to an axle.

7 denotes a reinforcement provided with threaded sockets for the reception of lthe inner threaded ends .8 of the hollow spokes f) the outer ends of which are provided with a flange 10 adapted to be fastened to the rigid rim 11 by screws 12. For the purposes ot' strength and appearance the spokes may preferably be oval in cross section as will be readily `understood from Figs. 1 and '2. Each spoke contains an expansion spring 13 the outer end of which engages a piston 14 to force the same outward. The piston terminates in a shoe 15 and asses through an opening 1G in the aforesai rim 11. The piston shoes abut the segment members 17 each of which comprises the concavo-convex rim portion 1.7 having two guiding lugs 18 which play in the openings 19 in the rim 11. Each segment has further at the ends thereof lugs 20 which are hinged to the other lugs Q0 on the adjacent segments by means of bolts 21. In this manner all the segments form a yieldable felly which contains the solid rubber tire 22.

From the above it will be understood that the wheel comprises a solid or rigid inner structure consisting of the hub, the hollow spokes and the rim 11;,and an outer flexible structure formed by the segmental felly containing the rubber tire and under the outward pressure of the springs on the pistons. Hence any thrust or pressure on the circumference of the wheel is taken up by one or more pistons directly and as the spring.'J are compressed the flexible felly yields to the pressure. The result is that the flattening of the tire due to the weight ot' the vehicle or to obstructions in the road is distributed to both sides of the point of contact by means of the segments, while the pistons resist the pressure direct.

The number of segments and theprecise manner in which they are connected as well as other changes in the construction of the wheel may of course be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim all such ehangesns may properly be said to come within the legitimate and intended scope of the invention and the claim.

\Vhat I claim is The ,combination of a4 hub, a rigid rim, hollow spokes connecting said hub and rim, an outer flexible felly comprising a plurality of segments hinged together und having their abutting edges inclined toward the hinge, each segment being of concave cross section for the reception of a tire, guiding lugs on each segment adjacent the hinges and adapted to guide the radial movement ot' the segment by passing through slots pro vided in the said run, se arate pistons in the said spokes, one for each) segment, each piston comprising a smooth stem and a.v concave foot, springs within the spokes for forcing the pistons outward through openings in the said rim and to cause the foot of the piston to abut the segment between the uidmg lugs aforesaid and in the center o the segment.

Signed at Trenton, N.\J., this 21st day of July 1909.

KRIsfrIAN KARL s'rRUBE. 

